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Table 1 Effect of ovarian cycle on HPA axis response to acute stress.

From: Acute stress may induce ovulation in women

Species

Stressor

Phase of the cycle

HPA axis response

References

Rats

Surgery

On the morning of proestrus

Positive

[38]

 

20-min restraint

On the morning of proestrus vs either estrus or diestrus

Increased

[39]

  

Proestrus, estrus and diestrus II

No cycle effect

[40]

Rhesus monkeys

30-min intracerebroventricular administration of interleukin-1α

Mid-follicular vs early-follicular phase

Increased

[41]

Women

Bilateral ovariectomy plus total hysterectomy

Mid- to late-follicular phase

Positive

[43]

  

Early- to mid-luteal phase

No response

[42, 43]

 

Cholecystectomy

Early- to mid-follicular phase

Positive

[42]

 

20-min progressive submaximal treadmill exercise

Mid-luteal phase vs early follicular phase

Increased

[44]

 

90-min submaximal bicycle exercise

Mid-luteal phase vs mid-follicular phase

Increased

[46]

 

90-min submaximal treadmill exercise

Mid-luteal phase vs early- and late-follicular phase

Increased

[47]

 

60-min progressive submaximal treadmill exercise

Mid-follicular and luteal phase

No cycle effect

[49]

 

Progressive maximal treadmill exercise to voluntary exhaustion or 40-min submaximal treadmill exercise

Early-follicular vs mid-luteal phase

No cycle effect

[50]

 

20-min progressive submaximal aerobic treadmill

Early-mid-follicular, periovulatory and mid-late luteal phase

No cycle effect

[51]

 

Psychological stress of remembering stressful situations in their lives and self-evaluation

Menstrual and periovulatory (late-follicular, ovulatory and early-luteal phases) phase

No cycle effect

[52]

 

Psychological stress of self-evaluation

Ovulatory period vs premenstrual phase

Decreased

[48]